New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a May Day rally marking International Workers' Day in New York, on May 1, 2026.
Image: Kena Betancur / AFP
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made headlines after choosing not to attend the 2026 Met Gala, breaking with a tradition that has seen New York mayors regularly appear at fashion’s biggest night for more than two decades.
Mamdani and his wife, illustrator Rama Duwaji, reportedly declined invitations to the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, saying the mayor wanted to focus on affordability issues affecting ordinary New Yorkers rather than attend one of the world’s most exclusive celebrity events.
According to reports from local New York outlet Hell Gate, Mamdani said his priority was “making the city more affordable” at a time when many residents are struggling with the rising cost of living.
His decision also carried political symbolism because this year’s Met Gala included billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos among its honorary chairs and sponsors. Mamdani, a democratic socialist politician, has frequently criticised extreme wealth inequality and has advocated for higher taxes on millionaires and billionaires.
Instead of walking the famous Met Gala carpet, Mamdani used the moment to shine a spotlight on garment workers and labourers who keep the fashion industry running behind the scenes.
In an interview with fashion publication i-D, Mamdani said: “The fashion industry is made possible by the thousands of workers behind the scenes, seamstresses, tailors, retail workers, delivery drivers, whose immense talent and dedication deserve to be celebrated.”
The mayor’s office reportedly launched a portrait campaign highlighting New York fashion workers, union organisers and tailors on the same day as the Met Gala festivities.
His move sparked widespread debate online, with many social media users praising the mayor for refusing to participate in what critics often describe as a display of excess wealth and celebrity elitism. Some Reddit users called the decision “the right approach” for a politician focused on working-class issues.
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